The Jaguars tackle the Jets: Three bold predictions

Will this be the week the Jacksonville Jaguars step on the accelerator in their game against the New York Jets?

Jaguars defensive coordinator Todd Wash believes the team’s defensive performance last Sunday at Cincinnati could be a sign of things to come.

As he met with the media on Thursday, he was asked about the team’s ability to cause turnovers against the Bengals and would that continue this week against the New York Jets. Wash, whose defense played like the unit he had in 2017 last week, thinks it could happen.

"“With the takeaways we talked about, ‘They come in bunches.’ We never want to press. I know everybody was saying, ‘You have to do this, you have to do that,’ well, until you’re in the building, you really don’t know what we need to do,” Wash said.“It was a situation I think [where] the offense starts to press, especially when you get behind, they start to press, maybe forcing some things and that gives us an opportunity. And also, most of the takeaways come in the passing game, so if you start chasing points, you’re going to have an opportunity. But it really comes down to staying with your fundamentals and executing the game plan.”"

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The defense will be hampered this week with injuries along the defensive line and the linebacker unit. While the Jets are one of the worst offensive teams in the NFL, it does not mean the Jaguars are taking this game lightly. And for this team, another defensive standout performance is possible if the players on the field come together to make up for the loss of injuries.

This could also be a huge game for the team offensively. The running game could be a highlight of the afternoon as Jacksonville hopes to continue on its winning ways with Houston on the schedule next week in London.

Here are three bold predictions for Sunday’s game at TIAA Bank Field.

Another touchdown for Yannick – Yannick Ngakoue is slowly getting back to playing his brand of football. It was apparent last week with the interception of Andy Dalton’s pass that he took to the house.

For Ngakoue, it’s about putting the injured hamstring behind him and showing he can once again be a force in the pass rush for the Jaguars. If Sam Darnold was on the field seeing ghosts against the Patriots on Monday night, what happens when a freight train comes out him in the form of No. 91?

Ngakoue will spend plenty of time in the Jets backfield harassing Darnold and gets another interception that he returns to the end zone.

Three touchdowns for No. 27 – The only thing missing from Leonard Fournette’s resume this season is scoring touchdowns. That all changes this week against the Jets defense.

The more mature, more determined Fournette, who leads the AFC in rushing and is second overall in the NFL in that category, will score three touchdowns on the ground, establishing himself as the -layer the Jaguars knew he could be when they drafted him fourth overall in 2017.

Fournette will also eclipse 150 yards rushing and 50 yards in catches to have over 200 total yards on the day. The third-year running back is slowly making a case for a potential contract extension after the 2019 season if he continues to play at this level.

Josh Allen gets four sacks – I love the fact rookie Josh Allen “fell” to the Jaguars with the seventh pick in April’s Draft. It has been one of those storylines we talk about, but don’t discuss how valuable he has been to this defense this season.

Allen has five sacks this season. If he registers a sack this week, he will be tied for the second-longest streak in franchise history. He would be the first Jaguars rookie since Ngakoue in 2016 to post at least 1.0 sack in four straight games.

I believe this is the game that sets the former Kentucky star up for Defensive Rookie of the Year consideration.

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